Halloween Fun!

TRUNK OR TREAT

With Halloween on Sunday this year, the ward party was all we really had planned. Which was fine with me, the kids always end up with way too much candy, and that was again the case.

Our vampire princess. Believe it or not, we could not find a pair of those plastic fangs that are always everywhere! We looked at several stores for her, and they were nowhere to be found.

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The character's official name is Tiana, but if you asked Sydnee what she was she answered "Princess and the Frog!" She was dead set on being her even before we shopped for costumes.

She was such a good trick or treater. She would say "trick or treat" to everyone, and always "Thank you!" It was so precious.

Dessert Commando. Jaxson can't stand anything on his face, so he was only in his helmet and face shield for this picture, and he never wore the goggles at all - just like his Grandpa, just like me.

It was too hot to make little Paige wear the pumpkin costume I had that was her size. So a pumpkin shirt had to do.

Enjoying their loot.

Not perfect, but I think this is the only picture we have gotten of the whole family since Paige was in the hospital.

Not only was Sunday Halloween, but it was our ward Primary Program too. Shaye and Jaxson did great on their parts, and it turned out to be a wonderful meeting, as the primary programs always are.

PUMPKIN CARVING

We saved the pumpkins for Sunday so we would have some activities to do as a family that evening. Shaye chose a more playful design this year, and Jaxson went with a spooky pumpkin. They scraped them out, and Sam carved them up.

CANDY APPLES

Have you ever had an apple from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory? A friend of mine in Bartlesville introduced them to me on one of our shopping trips in Dallas, and now there is one right up the street, it can be trouble! They are awesome... but they are also 7 dollars an apple and I'm sure a million calories. We made some of our own on Sunday while the kids passed out candy to the few trick or treaters we got. They were a good imitation of the others, very yummy! We covered them in caramel, rolled them in chocolate chips, and drizzled them with white chocolate. So good!

Definitely Two

This little gal keeps us on our toes, and sometimes at the end of our ropes! My other kids seem to hit that "terrible twos" at three. Let's hope she is going through her's now and it doesn't get worse. Yesterday she was covered in pen everywhere - ALL over her legs, on her stomach, and on her arms. I had to scrub her down so it would be less obvious at church today. And this evening, it was my make-up. Of course this is not my cheap make-up that she dug into. It was my 'way too expensive, why did I even buy that' make-up! So we hit the shower again for another scrubbing session! But of course, we adore her! She is so full of personality. She is spunky and feisty, and loving and cute, full of attitude and personality! She is our little fire ball and we are so glad she is part of our family!

No Halloween Joke

There are a few things I have always hated about Texas.... bugs, 90 degree weather during the holidays, and bugs! This week I got both. The other day I went in the garage to take the trash out and there was this huge spider. I happen to be on the phone with Sam who said "step on it, or grab it!" RIGHT! Like that was gonna happen. That evening while I was gone he said he killed on that was this big, showing me with his hand, and I figured it was the same one. Well, this morning I was making the kids' lunches for school, turn around and there he was in my kitchen!! Did I mention I hate Texas for the bugs!! This picture does me NO justice! This things was as big as the palm of my hand. I considered taking a picture before it was dead so I could show Sam and figure out what kind it was (he is out of town, of course!) But it was creepy enough taking the picture of it dead... no way was I going to stand around trying to get a good angle when it could have jumped on me at any moment! So here he is.... after a whole can of Hot Shot was sprayed at him. I am definitely more of a stand back and point killer. But he was twice this size stretched out. Oh my goodness, I will not be able to crawl into bed or walk around in the dark for days!

Six Months

Earlier this month my little Paige turned 6 months old. I suppose it is because she is our last baby, but I just don't want her to grow up! Recently I remembered I should be feeding her baby food and letting her practice drinking from a sippy cup. I'm not in a hurry for her to do all the "big kid" things. I love having a baby around! I love the way she smells. I love her big opened mouth smile that all our kids have had. I love that I can smother her in kisses, which I do several times a day, and she can't run away! I love watching her focus so hard on learning new things and accomplishing them. And of course, having a baby that is so wonderful has made it all that more enjoyable!
But, whether I like it or not, she's getting bigger. And that was proven at her doctor's appointment today. Her stats:

Height: 22.75 inches, 75th percentlie
Weight: 19.5 pounds, 90th percentile
Head: 17.6 inches, 90th percentlie

As always, we have a big, chubby baby! The most adorable little tub! And then there were the shots. I hate those things! I hate that they do it so slow... if they have 4 needles to jab her with, why can't they bring two nurses and get it done? The nurse today was especially slow. As soon as she injected the first immunization, Paige went into a silent cry... you know, when its so bad they aren't making any noise. And she stayed that way till all 4 were done and I could pick her up. It's agony for me to watch her as they poke her time and time again, waiting for it to stop, looking at me like how could I let them do such a thing. I'm so sorry my little Pay-Pay!
I figured all that would send Sydnee running from any shots, but here she is, fussing in the parking lot because she didn't get to get any "pokes."

Two in each leg. Three immunizations, and one flu shot.

Which equaled a really rough and miserable day for both of us...

Here are some other shots of my little sweetie at six months.

Saturday Sports

Every Saturday for the last several months has been filled with soccer and football. Until this week, Shaye's team was undefeated. They were really off their game and lost 5 to 2 on Saturday. They were all upset and Shaye cried some after the game. For a newly formed team, they have played great, and we have really enjoyed watching Shaye. Go number 22!







Sam practices with Jaxson, and talks about football about every day. He is finally starting to get a little fire under him, but just isn't built with that natural aggressiveness. He really likes to play and he listens to the coaches and is always hustling. We have been proud of him for how hard he has tried.






And the rest of us just enjoy watching them play...

Lucky Penny

Sydnee has been stealing coins from Shaye lately, so when she found one unattended, I guess she went for it. I went outside for 1 minute to take the trash out and when I got back this is where I found her!

Inflatable Fun

There's a playgroup every Friday with moms from our ward. This week it was at Inflatable Zone, which is a bunch of the big blowup jumpers, slides, and mazes. Sydnee was hesitant at first, and I had to crawl through tunnels, and take a few trips down the slide, but then she got the hang of it and had a blast! There were lots of other kids there, and she played hard for two full hours. It's definitely a place we'll have to visit again with the older kids.

Cutest Baby Ever...

The Tradition Continues...

No way was Sam giving up his semi-annual before Conference meatfest when we moved to Houston. Especially when there's a really yummy, way to expensive, Brazilian steakhouse here. So he invited guys from the ward he had met so far, and off they went Friday night.





I hear it was a lot of fun, and was glad Sam was willing to take the camera for me. Of course he wasn't going to let go of his champion title, so with a total of 13 pounds eaten, he was the winner... yet again! Way to go babe - what a talent! :)

Little Sisters!